Brugmansia plant named ‘Little Angel’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Brugmansia  plant named ‘Little Angel’, characterized by its semi-double type, white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Brugmansia sauveolens.

Variety denomination: ‘Little Angel’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Brugmansia plant botanically known as Brugmansia sauveolens and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Little Angel’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Guadalupe, Calif. during May 2005. The objective of the breeding program was the development of early to flower Brugmansia cultivars having a more compact growth habit.

The new Brugmansia cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is a Brugmansia sauveolens species selection, not patented, characterized by its single-type, white-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and a very vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during July 2006 in a controlled environment in Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since July 2006 in Guadalupe, Calif. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Little Angel’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Brugmansia plant:

-   -   1. Semi-double type, white-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage;     -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower-type, shade of foliage color, and growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Brugmansia cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Double Angel's Trumpet’, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Double Angel's Trumpet’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter, as measured at first         flower, than plants of ‘Double Angel's Trumpet’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have lighter green-colored foliage         than plants of ‘Double Angel's Trumpet’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower type different from         plants of ‘Double Angel's Trumpet’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Little Angel’. The plants were grown in 12-inch pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Little Angel’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Little Angel’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in April 2013 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 12-inch pots for 9 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch at transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Brugmansia sauveolens cultivar Little     Angel. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Brugmansia sauveolens species selection, not             patented.         -   Male parent.—Unknown. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 10 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 4 to 8             weeks.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, vigorous. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 3 to 4 months from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 1 gallon container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             compact-upright.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 70.0 cm. Width: Approximately 120.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 4.         -   Branch.—Strength: Strong, becomes woody with age. Length:             Approximately 50.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.5 cm.             Length of central internode: Approximately 9.0 cm. Texture:             Densely pubescent. Color of young stems: 144A. Color of             mature stems: 199D with 144A visible through longitudinal             fissures. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 6. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem, leaf             blade becomes pendulous with age. Shape: Elliptic. Margin:             Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Rounded or oblique. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately             28.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 13.0 cm.             Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent with             a mixture of glandular and non-glandular hairs. Color of             upper surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to             between 137A and 137B with venation of 146B. Color of lower             surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 147B with             venation of 147C.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 9.5 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color:             146B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Little Angel’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             7 to 10 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Semi-double, funnelform,             pendulous, self-cleaning. Quantity per plant:             Approximately 5. Fragrance: Heavily fragrant in evenings.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 4 to 5 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 21.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Narrowly oblong. Length:             Approximately 14.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 cm.             Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             non-glandular hairs. Color: Closest to 144A.         -   Corolla.—Vertical axis: Approximately 34.0 cm. Horizontal             axis: Approximately 26.0 cm.         -   Lobes.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube, and two to three             irregularly-shaped petaloids. Shape: Fan. Margin: Entire,             undulating. Apex: Acuminate with extended and recurved point             of approximately 4.5 cm in length and 1.0 mm in width.             Length from tube excluding point: Approximately 6.5 cm.             Width: Approximately 15.0 cm. Texture of outer surface:             Sparsely glandular pubescent on venation. Texture of inner             surface: Glabrous. Color of outer surface when first open:             2D. Color of inner surface when first open: 155D. Color of             outer and inner surfaces when fully open: NN155B.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 16.5 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 8.0 cm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 1.2 cm. Texture of outer surface: Densely             glandular pubescent on venation. Texture of inner surface:             Glabrous. Color of outer surface when first open: 2D. Color             of inner surface when first open: 155D. Color of outer and             inner surfaces when fully open: NN155B and 145D under             sepals.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused. Shape: Linear.             Margin: Entire, split to form two lobes. Apex: Acute.             Length: Approximately 18.5 cm. Width: Approximately 1.5 cm.             Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture             of glandular and non-glandular hairs. Texture of inner             surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color of outer and inner             surfaces: Closest to 144A.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Obtuse angle to stem.             Length: Approximately 5.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately             6.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Color: 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,             filaments adnate to corolla. Stamen length: Approximately             19.2 cm. Filament length: Approximately 16.0 cm. Filament             color: 145D. Anther shape: Bilobed, oblong. Anther length:             Approximately 3.2 cm. Anther texture: Densely pubescent.             Anther color: 156A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             155A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil             length: Approximately 20.0 cm. Stigma shape: Two-lobed,             fused. Stigma length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Stigma color:             158D. Style length: Approximately 17.8 cm. Style color:             NN155B. Ovary length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Ovary color:             144D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Brugmansia has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Brugmansia plant named ‘Little Angel’, substantially as herein shown and described. 